Scott is a shareholder in the Professional Liability Department with over 20 years of experience defending professionals against malpractice and other professional liability claims. He often defends lawyers against claims of malpractice and malicious prosecution. Scott also has extensive experience counseling lawyers on professional ethics and professional responsibility matters, including those facing disciplinary charges before the Office of Disciplinary Counsel as well as matters before the Pennsylvania Lawyers Fund for Client Security, the Pennsylvania Judicial Board and the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission. While his practice is largely focused on defending lawyers and law firms, he also frequently defends accountants, engineers, real estate agents, insurance agents and design professionals in a variety of professional liability lawsuits.
Scott is well known within the Pennsylvania legal community and is a frequent speaker at industry events. Among his many professional memberships, he is a member of the House of Delegates of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and Co-Vice Chair of its Professional Liability Committee. He is also active in the Allegheny County Bar Association where he is a member of the Ethics and Lawyer Professional Liability Committee. Additionally, he is a member of the Professional Liability Defense Federation.
Prior to joining Marshall Dennehey, Scott chaired the Ethics & Legal Malpractice Team at a Pittsburgh-based firm. A graduate of Duquesne University School of Law and DePauw University, he is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the United States Court of Federal Claims.
Honors & awards
Pennsylvania Super Lawyer Rising Star
2010, 2013, 2015-2017
Year joined
2023
Thought Leadership
Pennsylvania Bar Association Formal Opinion 2025-100 Reinforces Written Fee Agreements as Essential for Compliance and Risk Management
Pittsburgh
Lawyers' Professional Liability
January 1, 2026
In Formal Opinion 2025-100, the Pennsylvania Bar Association Committee on Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility emphasizes the importance of written fee arrangements.
Legal Updates for Lawyers’ Professional Liability - CASE LAW UPDATE
Pittsburgh
Lawyers' Professional Liability
September 1, 2025
Pennsylvania Superior Court Finds Pre-Judgment Interest Is Not Available in a Legal Malpractice Case Legal Updates for Lawyers’ Professional Liability - September 2025 is prepared by Marshall Dennehey to provide information on recent legal development
Legal Updates for Lawyers’ Professional Liability - CASE LAW UPDATE
Pittsburgh
Lawyers' Professional Liability
September 1, 2025
District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Upholds Agreement to Arbitrate Fee Dispute in Attorney Retainer Agreement Legal Updates for Lawyers’ Professional Liability - September 2025 is prepared by Marshall Dennehey to provide information on recent legal development
New Changes to Pennsylvania Attorney Advertising Rules Prohibit Text Messages to Solicit Prospective Clients
Pittsburgh
Lawyers' Professional Liability
Disciplinary Board Representation
February 1, 2025
In October 2024, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court adopted a series of amendments to the Rules of Professional Conduct for legal services communications. Legal Update for Lawyers’ Professional Liability - February 2025 is prepared by Marshall Dennehey to provide information on recent lega
PA Superior Court Rules, Expert Report that Merely Speculates About the Outcome of Underlying Action Is Insufficient to Establish Causation in Legal Malpractice Lawsuit.
Pittsburgh
Lawyers' Professional Liability
October 1, 2024
The plaintiff alleged it would have mounted a successful defense to an underlying workers’ compensation action but for its attorney’s purported negligence in failing to conduct a thorough and timely investigation of the underlying claimant’s injur Case Law Alerts, 4th Quarter, Octo
Classes/Seminars Taught
“Avoiding Legal Malpractice,” Butler County Bar Association, September 2025
“Ethically Terminating the Attorney-Client Relationship,” Allegheny County Bar Association (Sorg Forum), May 2025
“Ethics Considerations,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute Auto Law Update, October 2024
“Avoiding Legal Malpractice,” Beaver County Bar Association, November 2023
'Ethics Considerations,' Pennsylvania Bar Institute Auto Law Update, October 2023
“Avoiding Legal Malpractice,” Butler County Bar Association, August 2023
“Avoiding Legal Malpractice,” Westmoreland County Bar Association, June 2023
'Avoiding Legal Malpractice,' Pennsylvania Bar Association, June 2023
“Ethics Considerations,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute Auto Law Update, October 2022
“Avoiding Legal Malpractice,” Butler County Bar Association, September 2022
“Avoiding Legal Malpractice,” Clearfield County Bar Association, September 2022
“Risk Management for Pennsylvania Attorneys,” INtegrity First Corporation, September 2022
“The Ethics of Representing Entities and Their Employees,” panelist, Allegheny County Bar Association, May 2022
“Ethically Responding to Negative Online Reviews and Lawyer Blogging,” Allegheny County Bar Association, February 2022
“Avoiding Legal Malpractice - How to Get Sued in 10 Easy Steps,” Erie County Bar Association, December 2021
“Ethics Considerations - Responding to Negative Online Reviews,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute Auto Law Update, October 2021
“Ethics Refresher for Paralegals,” Pittsburgh Paralegal Association, August 2021
“Ethically Terminating the Lawyer-Client Relationship,” Panelist, PBI Family Law Institute, April 2021
“Ethics of Medical Marijuana,” panelist, Allegheny County Bar Association, April 2021
“Ethics Considerations,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute Criminal Law Update, December 2020
“Ethics Considerations,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute Auto Law Update, October 2020
“Ethics and Social Media,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, October 2019
“Avoiding Ethical Jams, Documenting the Representation,” Erie County Bar Association, May 2019
“Who Exactly is Your Client?” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, March 2019
“Cyber Liability and Duties of a Lawyer in the Event of a Data Breach,” Allegheny County Bar Association, December 2018
AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him
or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely
respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
